Bunk Johnson – Volume 2 “New Orleans” (1942-1945)

Although jazz trumpet player, Bunk Johnson, undoubtedly played a part in the early story of Jazz and was at the forefront of its development in New Orleans around 1907-1914 (he taught Louis Armstrong), he never recorded during the vintage-jazz era of the late teens through to the 1930`s. After spending the thirties as a truck driver, he was contacted by a group of enthusiasts, was fitted out with a new set of teeth and set on his second career as a professional musician. He is now regarded internationally as one of the great jazz legends of all time.
“King Bolden and myself were the first men that began playing jazz in the city of dear old New Orleans and his band had the whole of New Orleans real crazy and running wild behind it,” wrote trumpeter Willie “Bunk” Johnson to Bill Russell in 1939. These simple words inaugurated one of the widest reaching movements in jazz, as scholars and record collectors joined forces to see if jazz history could be brought to life through the playing of Bunk and other survivors of the earliest generation of jazz players.

Track Listing:
Rehearsal Tests, New Orleans, La., 11 June 1942 -  Bunk Johnson's Original Superior Band: 1. Moose March (Rehearsal Test 3 Takes) - 1:32   2. These Draftin' Blues - 1:00   New Orleans, La., Autumn 1942 - Bunk Johnson's Jazz Band: 3. Big Chief Battle Axe (Take A) - 2:44   4. Big Chief Battle Axe (Take B) - 2:59   5. Dusty Rag - 3:10   6. Franklin Street Blues (Take A) - 3:36   7. Franklin Street Blues (Take B) - 3:16   8. The Thriller Rag - 2:54   9. Sobbin' Blues - 2:37   10. Sobbin' Blues No. 2 - 3:51   11. When I Leave This World Behind - 2:55   12. Sometimes My Burden Is So Hard To Bear - 2:42   13. Blue Bells Goodbye - 2:55   14. Shine - 3:06   15. Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula - 2:51   16. Weary Blues - 2:44   New Orleans, La., 17 February 1945 - Bunk Johnson And His New Orleans Band: 17. Tiger Rag - 3:57   18. Weary Blues - 2:35   19. Pallet On The Floor - 3:48   20. Careless Love - 3:52   Bunk Johnson with Louis Armstrong And His Jazz Foundation Six:– 21. Basin Street Blues - 1:37

Personnel:
Bunk Johnson (trumpet) , Louis Armstrong (trumpet on 21) , George Lewis (clarinet on 1-20) , Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone, clarinet on 21) , Albert Warner (trombone on 3-16,) , Jim Robinson (trombone on 1,2,17-20) , J.C. Higginbotham (trombone on 21) , Lawrence Marrero (banjo on 1 to 20 ) , Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau (bass on 17-20) , Austin Young (bass on 1, 2) , Chester Zardis (bass on 3-16) , Ricard Alexis (bass on 21) , James P. Johnson (piano on 21) , Walter Decou (piano on 1 to 16) , Edgar Moseley (drums on 3-16) , Ernest Rogers (drums on 1,2) , "Kid Collins" (Abbie Williams) (drums on 17, 20) , Paul Barbarin (drums on 21)